Why do people break traffic rules and laws?
Shamsoddin Shariati
Published in RTÉ Brainstorm.
Published in RTÉ Brainstorm, this article argues that traffic-law compliance cannot be secured through enforcement, penalties, or surveillance alone. While such measures remain necessary, they are insufficient to create lasting behavioural change. Safer roads depend on deeper social conditions: public trust in institutions, economic and personal security, access to education and reliable information, and a shared understanding of responsibility towards others. When individuals believe that laws are fair, designed for the common good, and supported by institutions that respect them, they are more likely to follow rules even when no immediate punishment is likely. The article therefore contends that improving road safety requires not only stronger enforcement, but also the development of a broader culture of trust, rationality, and social responsibility.